Netflix: The Stranger. Utter crap!

[Yarboosucks]

I know there are other threads on MN about this programme, but everyone on there seem to love it, whereas I am cross with myself for watching it! My only excuse is that I am up at night on nursing duties for an elderly dog in his final days and needed something to help keep me awake.

Ridiculous, utter non-credible, flawed plot
Terrible, stilted script
Awful acting from some actors
Cliche-ridden characters
Big name actors just looked embarrassed and uncommitted

God it was awful.

Is there anyone else out there who feels the same or am I alone?

I decided to watch “Safe” a few days ago with Michael C Hall, and low and behold, it seems The Stranger was a rip off Safe.

They tried so hard to pull it off, but it couldn’t manage it. If you want something similar but done better with a few “wtf” moments at the characters then please watch Safe. Much better!

Binge watched this over the weekend - after getting over the initial shock of the relatively low production values (opening scene felt like watching hollyoaks where Netflix productions set in the US tend to be rather cinematic), I quite enjoyed the ridiculous storyline (up until the last episode) and as a Manchester resident LOVED the location-spotting.

Like previous posters, the narrow two-up two-down with a cellar and attic and the idea that funds in a local sports club would be worth killing for did stretch credulity too far. Police headquarters seemed a little unbelievable too.

More than anything else, though, I was baffled by how the teenage girls dressed. The adults' clothing, the decor of the houses, the cafe - spot-on. The clothes those girls were wearing, though, were like nothing any teenage girl I've seen in real life wears. I'm imagining someone in the year 1993 who knows no actual young women casting a low-budget film about hackers. Weird.

I thought it was dreadful. Unrealistic, badly written. But I did enjoy 'safe' which is why I watched this one

I like harlon coben but I don't think his style of writing works well on screen. Too many side stories and lots of plot holes in this adaptation anyway. Why did Rea not get rid of his wife's body. If anyone would know how to dispose of it, it would be a cop/ex cop. And surrounded by building works, perfect opportunity! Why did Katz try and frame Armatige's wife by leaving her old id thing at the cafe? Or was that an accident? Seems an odd coincidence if it was. And yes the houses were massive, one of them was owned by a gym teacher?

grannysbat Both Safe and The Stranger are based on books by the same author: Harlan Coben. They’re American and both shows have changed the setting to the UK which is one of the reasons it doesn’t work.

A local footy club with tens of thousands of pounds?! Come on...Maybe in The OC!

Omg I didn’t even realise it was written by the same person as Safe. So many similarities!! But one with a shit ending and the other better! 😂 I’m enlightened! And feel a bit thick but also quite clever because I could tell the style of story without knowing the writer 🤔😂

Thanks @Faffandahalf 🤣 I just found out!

We don’t have big houses and gated communities! And we don’t have a bloody bbq whenever we want. It always rains 😉😆🤭

We watched Safe, and quite enjoyed it. We started The Stranger with high hopes ... and gave up towards the end of the first episode. Not gripping. Too disjointed.

DH walked in on me watching Safe. After about 1 minute he said "Is this a comedy?"

I think that sums it up.

I'm on episode five and enjoying it! Ok it's cheesy but I really want to see what happens!

I’ve just finished it.

Most of it was enjoyable nonsense, but that final episode was goddamn ridiculous. We’re supposed to believe Joanna wrapped up the case like that?

Any suggestions for what to watch next? Speaking as someone who adores Line of Duty and was riveted by Marcella despite its many flaws.

I couldn’t get through half an episode, to be honest. The acting is terrible!

Absolutely dreadful. Cannot understand the hype.

It was bloody awful! I don't know why I carried on watching it.

So glad this is not only me. I can’t even bring myself to finish watching.

We loved it. Just finished watching Safe. Don’t watch that if you didn’t like The Stranger.

Completely agree - it was absolute crap and safe is even worse. Absolute trash and unbelievable - who answers a phone on speaker and doesn't tell someone who else is in the room!!!

Just finished watching Safe. Don’t watch that if you didn’t like The Stranger.

😂 I thought Safe was done better than The Stranger. But Michael C Hall’s accent was very odd. He should’ve kept his accent. Now I want to watch Dexter all over again..(apart from the last season/last episode)

I loved The Stranger! Yes it was far fetched and I didn't like the ending but I enjoyed watching it all unfold. I think it was good as some things were dead ends like the Suzanne Hope thing. You thought it was going to explain things but it didn't which added to the story.

Harlan Coben is utter crap, very popular utter crap, still, but I wasn't holding out much hope. I'm only watching because of the cast, but it is much too violent and disturbing for me really.

It also made me a bit depressed, because I thought that this is the future of TV I'm looking at. Transatlantic drama, British actors and location, but no local character, no Stockport accents, US drama levels of gratutitous violence- kneecapping Jennifer Saunders in a Stocky market cafe - was that really necessary??

I subscribed to Netflix for the kids, but oh my god, it has made me appreciate what the BBC do even more, and even ITV. Netflix stuff is not a patch on proper home grown dramas (that in the BBC's case, do not have commerciality and advertising at the forefront when they are being written).

Also something about the super duper HD or the camera work makes me feel queasy. I don't actually want to feel like I'm in the same room with the action, thanks.

@LaurieMarlow I have watched 'unbelievable' on Netflix recently which was really good. Also Ozark is great. Both quite violent though but good characters and plots. Oh 'seven seconds' too and 'unforgotten' ' which is a UK made thing sold on Netflix. Also 'river'. Looks like I watch a lot! But I watch a tv programme every lunchtime and that's basically it!

Cool, thanks, I’ll check them out

I hadn't heard of "Unbelievable" before but, based on the recommendations of PP, I've added it to our watch list.

We watched "Endeavour" last night and it was just so good compared to "The Stranger". Logic, plot progression, good acting. The only drawback is that it's ITV, but if you download it from the ITV Hub there are no adverts anyway.

Unforgotten is good. I really like the lead actress, Nicola something.

I like police periodicals and thrillers, DP like Sci-fi. We both really enjoyed "The Expanse", "Mr Robot", and "Jessica Jones". If you have Prime TV then "Bosch" is very good (US cop thriller). Loosely based on the novels. "Big Little Lies" is absolutely fantastic - possibly the best thing I've seen in recent years.